Sally Hutchinson: Evolution of the Artist

Sally is passionate about painting. I don’t think I could mean that anymore for any other painter, ever.

She wakes up and starts each day by painting. Sally integrates art into her career as a counsellor. She paints inside, outside, and where ever her travels take her.

Sally Hutchinson started her career in art with bags she created and then painted, selling them at the Saint John City Market in New Brunswick. From there, she founded her company called Rumpelstilt’skins where she created leather characters: elves, fairies, and other things. Her process can be likened to paper-mache with leather. Rumpelstilt’skins slowly evolved more into painting, beginning first by accident with leather on canvas, then to leather and paint on canvas, and then to paint on canvas.

Although she left her play with leather in her painting behind, she continues to use that experience of texture within her paintings.

The use of cheesecloth and sand help bring the depth of the sunset to life in Last Night.

Currently, Sally is drawn to the everyday backyard for her images. The everyday beauty. A lot of her works are reflective of her love for the outside. You can see an example of her backyard paintings in the photo of Sally's plein air painting above.

“The thing that I love about making art is following what wants to happen, listening deeply to myself and the work. Noticing and responding, a call and answer. The trick is to get out of the way and then I can work.” Sally Hutchinson

When I asked her what her strength was, Sally said for the first time in her life she was consistent with practice. When she starts each day by painting, it can be practice, exercise or a whole painting in one go. Sally believes her weakness is in not always trusting herself. When she does trust herself, she says it’s always great, even when it isn’t. If she is in her head too much, it becomes too contrived and starts to lose its life.

I believe Sally's use of colour is one of the many strengths she has in her artwork. Her blends of colours and use of vibrant shades sets each painting out to be noticed and naturally takes the viewer on a journey around the piece to capture each individual detail.

Sally’s art journey is never stagnant. This year she has dedicated herself to a class on abstract painting and enjoying every minute of it. We are so pleased to be able to share some of Sally Hutchinson's paintings with you. Please contact us at info@whisperwindgallery.com with any inquiry or interest in seeing more of Sally's paintings.

3 Responses

Sharon Gunn

I have been following Sally’s posts for about the past year. I have admired her wonderful use of color, the immediacy of her brush stokes, the mood and feeling created in each piece; wonderful.

Her strength of consistent practice is to be admired;it is certainly a goal for all artists, sometimes not always achieveable due to circumstances yet still a goal.
The flip side of this is the artist Glen Gould who never practised between performances.

JUNE GAUVIN

December 21, 2018

I love everything you do Sally, especially those clothes lines.

Kim Small

December 21, 2018

Love your work and am proud to have known you. I really love the abstracts you have been working on this year. xxx

Leave a comment

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Also in Gallery News

The Lovers Collection by Antonia McGuane stands the test of time as a representation of the connection between lovers. This post is my reflection on McGuane's paintings and shares that absolutely perfect moment between lovers.

Our collection of art has grown again! Whisper Wind Gallery welcomes Antonia McGuane. Antonia is a free spirit and travels the globe working and expanding her art repertoire. Her pieces are reflective of her address of the time, painting landscapes or aspects of the culture.